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dhb Women's Blok Dasher Short Sleeve Jersey

9
£49.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Super comfortable jersey with a great female cut, in a bold, highly visible design
Weight: 
135g

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The Dasher jersey is one of the several brightly coloured 'fashion forward' items in dhb's new Blok range, which are inspired by jockey racing silks and retro team geometrics. This one is actually the most understated of the three women's jersey designs available, which also includes Australian and British Flag inspired designs in faintly gaudy hues of pink, purple and blue.

So let's talk about the colour. It won't be for everyone, but you do have to admire DHB's bravery, and they've certainly captured the fluoro kit zeitgeist championed by top end brands like Castelli. The contrasting DHB logos and zips - in proper highlighter yellow - really pop out from the bold pattern, and it's just the type of enhanced visibility that will grab drivers' attention without making you look like a geeky traffic cone. If you're really feeling the brightness, you can indulge in matching bib shorts or tights which have a thick fluoro yellow band on the leg hem, and pair with the armwarmers from the range; available in bright fluoro yellow, fluoro pink, or two different patterns that would look at home in an early '90s music video - make of this what you will.

The fit is described as 'anatomic'. In practice, the fabric is highly elastic, and I found the cut figure skimming; stretching comfortably over the hips and chest and in at the waist. I could have happily sized up for a more relaxed fit without compromising a female silhouette. The excellent fit is compounded by the generous length of the jersey. It sits comfortably on my hips, and combined with the added security of a silicone strip running along the hem, doesn't ride up at all. The standard three-pocket design is supplemented by a nifty hi-viz zip on the right, giving access to a smaller pocket easily big enough for keys, coins or a debit card.

Essentially, I put it on and proceeded not to think about it again until I took it off at the end of a ride, which is testament enough to its ability to deal with various climatic fluctuations and exertion levels. The fabric itself is quite light, very soft, and has a silky texture that sits amazingly comfortably against the skin, even when damp. It also wicks well, and the thinness of the fabric lends itself perfectly to a summer jersey.

There's an antibacterial treatment to the fabric, which appears to be quite effective, judging by the heavily subdued lingering lycra smell on the commute home. It still smells fresh after loads of washing cycles, although I imagine the treatment won't last forever.

However, those washing cycles have demonstrated that it needs washing on a gentle programme, because the downside of the silky, comfortable fabric is that it snags easily, so don't wash with anything that can grab or tug it.

It's nice to see a jersey with a quality full length zip that has been properly finished; the inners are stitched flat, so there are no irritating loose edges. Generally, I tend to prefer 1/4 or 3/4 length zips as I don't like material bunching around my waist. I've found the the fabric's elasticity helps to eliminate this effect in the Dasher though, resulting in little to no folding when bent over the bike. There isn't a zip garage, but with the low height collar and tidy zip ends, I didn't miss it.

DHB have a reputation for good value kit, and this jersey, as part of their new Blok range, is the next step up in quality kit at a reasonable price. The company has certainly pushed the aesthetic boat out - some may say too far. However, despite not being a big fan of patterns, fluoro, or pink, this jersey has firmly secured a place in my favorites drawer for the pure comfort and performance factors. I'll even admit to being converted to its quirky, eye catching design.

Verdict

Super comfortable jersey with a great female cut, in a bold, highly visible design

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road.cc test report

Make and model: dhb Womens Blok Dasher Short Sleeve Jersey

Size tested: 12

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

A stand out cycling jersey which doesn't compromise on performance, the Dasher has naturally wicking fabric properties, an anti-bacterial fabric treatment and plenty of pockets for storing your valuables and rider essentials.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

- Fabric naturally wicks moisture away from the skin

- Anti bacterial control fabric treatment

- 3 vertical drop pockets at the rear

- Invisible secure pocket for storing valuables

- Silicone hem grip to keep the back of the jersey from rising

- dhb logo on front chest and upper back in fluoro

- Full length YKK zip

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Well finished and tidy seams, high quality zip integration, and general finishing.

Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10

I put it on and promptly forgot about it, which is testament enough to its ability to deal with various climatic temperatures and exertion levels.

Rate the product for durability:
 
6/10

The thinness and softness of the fabric is extremely comfortable, but these properties mean it's prone to damage (small snagging) in the long term if you're not careful. It's certainly not the most durable fabric I've ever tested.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
9/10

Wonderfully lightweight fabric lends to an overall lightweight garment.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
10/10

Super soft and silky fabric, excellent fit, no rubbing seams, zips or hems.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

A bit more expensive than traditional dhb, but easily hitting the average price bracket for a standard jersey, especially with Wiggle/British Cycling/CTC discounts. The finish, fabric and cut is in the top bracket for this price.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Perfectly.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Fit and comfort.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The colour scheme is... divisive.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 23  Height: 5ft7  Weight:

I usually ride: Sabbath September  My best bike is: Van Nicholas Mistral for summer

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, audax

 

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1 comments

Avatar
oddbydefault | 9 years ago
0 likes

Apparently it's quite popular in some parts:
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